Interstate 93 reopened Thursday after traffic was brought to a halt when a group of protesters wearing adult diapers blocked the highway during Thursday morning's rush hour.

In response to the protests, Massachusetts state police closed Interstate 93 northbound in Milton and I-93 southbound in Medford at Mystic Avenue.

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By 10 a.m., both scenes had been cleared, but traffic remained slow for some time.

Some of the protesters in Milton sat on the highway with their arms shoulder-deep inside sealed 1,200-pound barrels. Fire officials used saws and power tools to free the protesters from the barrels before they were taken into custody.

In Medford, protesters formed a human blockade, chaining themselves hand-to-hand with "lockboxes" to stop traffic on the busy highway.

According to state police, 11 protesters were arrested in Milton and 8 were arrested in Medford.

State Police Col. Tim Alben called the protest immature, irresponsible and reckless and said it was "conduct that is risking people's lives."

"This morning the Easton Fire Department responded to a serious car crash. The victims were being transported to Boston, but due to the protest, the ambulance had to be redirected," Alben said.

The protest was organized by the Boston contingent of Black Lives Matter.

In a statement, the organization said the protest was intended to "to confront white complacency in the systemic oppression of black people in Boston."

An ambulance carrying a man with life-threatening injuries had to be diverted to a different hospital during the protests.